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Saturday, November 15th was the first day of “regular” deer hunting season, which continues until December 7th. It is followed by muzzle loading and late bow season which go from 12/8 to 12/16.

That doesn’t mean you have to stay out of the woods for these 4 weeks. You can continue to hike if you follow some common sense practices in hunting season:

• Avoid hiking close to dawn and dusk when hunters are more likely to be in the woods
• Wear blaze orange – hats, pack covers, jackets, etc. Do not wear white, which can be mistaken for the flash of a deer’s tail.
• Don’t forget about orange for your pets as well.
• Stay on trails. This is not the best time of year to bushwhack in areas open to hunting.
• Hike where deer, and therefore hunters, are less likely to be found. Don’t hike in areas that you know are popular with hunters.
• If you hear hunters or gunshots, announce in a loud but polite voice, “Hikers on Trail”

Opening weekend is always the busiest for hunters so consider hiking where hunting isn’t allowed. Check nearby state park regulations here and also check propertiess held by land conservancy organizations.